Spooky goings on at Leeds museum and gallery sites

Caption: The Halloween Spooktacular, is just one of the events set to be held during half term.

Museum and gallery sites across Leeds are set to celebrate Halloween in style during half term next week, as they host a number of family friendly spooky events.

Youngsters of all ages will have the chance to take part and enjoy a packed programme of fun activities at venues including Leeds Industrial Museum, Temple Newsam House, Lotherton Hall, Leeds City Museum and Kirkstall Abbey.

Highlights will include a Barry the Dragon Halloween Party on Wednesday 30 October offering a day of games, crafts and activities ideal for younger visitors at Abbey House Museum, and a spooky Halloween tour around the mill at Leeds Industrial Museum on both Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 October. A tour of all the scary bits at Leeds City Museum will also be on offer on Thursday 31 October.

Historic Kirkstall Abbey will be the home of a spooky Scarecrow Hunt from the 29 October from 10am-3pm, while on Saturday 26 October two tours suitable for children aged 7+ will be available that will reveal the ghostly, ghastly secrets of Temple Newsam House. There will also be the opportunity as part of The Halloween Spooktacular on Thursday 31 October to trick or treat through the darkened house and farm if you dare.

The Leeds Discovery Centre, which is home to thousands of different artefacts, will also open its doors and allow visitors to tour the store by torchlight on Wednesday 30 October, while Lotherton Hall will be holding a Make a Mini Scarecrow event on Tuesday 29 October.

For those not looking for a scary Halloween day out, a range of other great events throughout half term week will be available to keep children entertained. These will include at Thwaite Mills on Tuesday 29 October an Autumn Nature Hunt and various painting and drawing events at Leeds Art Gallery.

Appearing at the gallery on Saturday 26 October is Big Up a View for Big Draw, where families will be able to come together and make an enormous drawing inspired by the places where you live.

Featuring as part of the programme at Leeds City Museum is also a ‘We love Stories Day’, which delivered in partnership by Leeds Grammar School and the Ilkley Literature Festival on November 1, will focus on the work of famed children’s author and illustrator Anthony Browne as part of his current ‘Through the Magic Mirror’ exhibition.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for leisure and skills said:

"I am delighted to say that this half term there will be a wide range of fantastic events available at our museums and gallery sites for children of all ages to enjoy.

"As part of the programme, this will include a number of Halloween related activities, which promise to be not only great fun but also on occasions a little spooky!

"With some of the events needing to be booked, we would ask anyone interested in attending to reserve their places as soon as possible."

Notes to editors:

For more information on events and admission, please visit: www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries

Spooky Halloween themed day for families, featuring crafts, stories and tours of the scary bits in the museum. Why not come dressed for the occasion? FREE EVENT and FREE ENTRY TO MUSEUM

Link: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Events/Pages/halloween-special.aspx

We Love Stories: Fri 1 November, 11.00am to 3.00pm

Free family fun day to explore stories and bring books to life! Step through the magic mirror to meet Anthony Browne’s book characters, enjoy storytelling and illustrating, crafts, face painting and competitions. The event run in partnership with The Grammar School at Leeds and Ilkley Literature Festival.

Find all of our spooky scarecrows hidden around the abbey. You might even recognise some of them! FREE EVENT

Link: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Events/Pages/spooky-scarecrow-hunt.aspx

Temple Newsam House:

Gruesome Newsam – Saturday 26th October, 11.00am & 2.00pm

All the grisly, ghastly and ghostly secrets of Temple Newsam will be revealed in this guided tour of the house. Suitable for children aged 7+. Booking required Tel: 0113 3367460. FREE EVENT (house admission charge applies)

Link: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Events/Pages/gruesome-newsam.aspx

The Halloween Spooktacular – Thursday 31st October, 5pm – 8pm.

Trick or treat through the darkened house and farm if you dare. Adult £6.30, child £4, family ticket £20 (includes two adults and up to three children). Booking required Tel: 0113 3367460.

Experience our store by torchlight (bring your own) and then investigate the wonderful world of big teeth, toxins, tarantulas and all nature's ways of protecting against these things. Booking is required, please call 0113 378 2100. FREE EVENT and FREE ENTRY TO MUSEUM

Imaginative activities for people of all ages to enjoy inspired by our newest exhibition Art and Life: 1920 – 1931. Have fun experimenting with different materials and what you can do with them. Open during usual gallery opening hours. FREE EVENT and FREE ENTRY TO GALLERY

Thwaite Mills:

Autumn Nature Hunt – Tuesday 29th October, 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Plants and animals alike put on a final show before the cold winter months so it's a great time to join us as we head outside to enjoy nature's seasonal sights. FREE EVENT (museum admission charge applies)